Adrianne R. Troilo is a Senior Human Resources professional with 20 years of experience in employee relations, recruitment, retention, and workforce development. She strikes a balance with a common-sense approach to leadership and growth through innovative methodologies.  Adrianne has worked for the private sector, non-profit, and trade associations.  She has been an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1999 and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources designation from SHRM.

Adrianne is the Vice President, People and Culture for IWPR. Her key responsibilities include serving as the primary advocate and strategic advisor for establishing a healthy, people-centered, inspiring work culture.

Adrianne is a proud graduate of Bowie State University and holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism.  Adrianne lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, Nick.

Jesse joins IWPR as Vice President, Policy and Strategic Initiatives having served as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL) in the ASL office. In these roles, Jesse provided strategic oversight guidance and team leadership to promote the health and well-being of children, youth, families, and communities.

Prior to HHS, Jesse worked as both oversight and policy staff on Capitol Hill as Professional Staff for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Oversight and as an Investigator for what was formerly the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. During her time on Capitol Hill, she managed a breadth of public health and human services investigations as well as a human rights and behavioral health policy portfolio.

A champion for advancing the health and rights of women, children, and families since the beginning of her career in her home state working for an Alaska State Representative and the Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, Jesse has also served in a range of policy leadership roles for the Guttmacher Institute and the RAND Corporation, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association and the American Public Health Association, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.

Jesse graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Alaska Anchorage and earned a Master of Arts in political science from American University.

Nicole Galagan is an accomplished leader and strategic visionary with a proven track record in fundraising, partnership development, and organizational growth across the nonprofit and private sectors. She currently serves as Vice President of Advancement and Philanthropic Engagement at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, where she leads efforts to expand mission-aligned support and amplify the organization’s impact on advancing gender equity. 

Prior to joining IWPR, Nicole served as Vice President of Corporate Engagement at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she spearheaded transformative fundraising strategies, resulting in a 74% increase in corporate giving. She also established the Capital Corporate Council to strengthen regional business partnerships and deepen community investment in the arts. 

Nicole’s career is rooted in a deep commitment to driving social change through strategic philanthropy and inclusive leadership. She has held key roles at the Honolulu Museum of Art and Americans for Indian Opportunity, where she led fundraising initiatives that advanced arts and Indigenous empowerment. A passionate advocate for underrepresented communities, Nicole mentors Indigenous students and emerging leaders, fostering academic achievement, cultural identity, and pathways to leadership. She currently serves on the boards of Collegiate Directions, supporting first-generation college students, and the Tuskahimith Organization, which empowers Indigenous youth. Nicole also co-edited A Cup of Cappuccino for the Entrepreneur’s Spirit: American Indian Women Entrepreneurs’ Edition, celebrating the voices and successes of Native women in business. 

Blending senior leadership experience with entrepreneurial drive, Nicole is committed to leveraging philanthropy as a catalyst for equity and innovation. She brings to her work a collaborative spirit, a deep understanding of mission-driven engagement, and a steadfast dedication to building a more inclusive future. 

Tonya Williams is the Vice President of Communications and External Affairs at IWPR. With over 15 years of experience amplifying mission-driven work and uplifting women and communities of color, she is committed to ensuring that IWPR’s research drives national conversations and informs lasting policy change.

Before joining IWPR, Tonya served in the Biden-Harris administration as Director of the Office of Communications and Marketing at AmeriCorps, where she led integrated campaigns that elevated the stories of service and civic engagement across the country. Previously, she spent six years at EMILYs List as Senior Director of Strategic Communications, where she shaped the organization’s voice through three election cycles, launched national campaigns to elevate women’s political leadership, and guided the brand through a relaunch to reach broader, more diverse audiences.

Tonya also served as Director of Communications at America’s Promise Alliance, where she led media outreach and strategic communications for the GradNation campaign to increase high school graduation rates, with a focus on equity and youth voice.

Tonya holds a master’s degree in corporate communications from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack & Jill of America, Inc., she is deeply committed to mentorship, community uplift, and advancing gender equity.

Originally from Mississippi and raised in middle Tennessee, she lives in Virginia with her husband and two children.

Afet Dundar, PhD comes to IWPR after 12 years at the National Student Clearinghouse. As Director, Equity in Research and Analytics, Dr Dundar was responsible for establishing and driving forward the principles for an equitable, unbiased, and inclusive approach to data collection and analytics at the Clearinghouse and for championing the organization’s learning agenda for data and analytics to better reflect equity. In the early years of her tenure with the Clearinghouse, as one of the founding senior leaders of the Clearinghouse Research Center, Dr Dundar led the development and production of the national reports on student outcomes, and the education metrics development work for different platforms and services of the Clearinghouse. Dr Dundar has contributed to numerous publications on student access and success outcomes. She has a Ph.D. in education policy studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

Ariane Hegewisch is Senior Research Fellow at IWPR and Scholar in Residence at American University; prior to that she spent two years at IWPR as a scholar-in-residence. She came to IWPR from the Center for WorkLife Law at UC Hastings. She is responsible for IWPR’s research on workplace discrimination and is a specialist in comparative human resource management, with a focus on policies and legislative approaches to facilitate greater work life reconciliation and gender equality, in the US and internationally. Prior to coming to the USA she taught comparative European human resource management at Cranfield School of Management in the UK where she was a founding researcher of the Cranet Survey of International HRM, the largest independent survey of human resource management policies and practices, covering 25 countries worldwide. She started her career  in local economic development, developing strategies for greater gender equality in employment and training in  local government in the UK. She has published many papers and articles and co-edited several books, including ‘Women, work and inequality: The challenge of equal pay in a deregulated labour market”. She is German and has a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MPhil in Development Studies from the IDS, Sussex.

Read Ariane’s publications

Dr. Martha Susana Jaimes is IWPR’s Research Economist. She is a feminist labor economist with more than 10 years of experience in applied microeconomics; gender segmentation, data collection, management, and visualization; and policy design. She has a Ph.D. in Public and Urban Policy from The New School and an MS in Economics from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. Her doctoral research focused on social policy, social insurance, and feminist retirement policies. Her work is centered on feminist labor economics, economics of aging and retirement security, demography, and actuarial studies, with special focus on gender and inequality. Before joining IWPR she was an adjunct lecturer at NYU and Fordham University in New York city, and previously worked as a research associate at the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School as part of the Retirement Equity Lab team. She was a 2018 fellow of the Social Security Administration and the Center for Retirement Research at Boston

Dr. Free is Project Director of Connect for Success at IWPR, an initiative that expands access to reproductive healthcare supports for community college students. In this role, she leads the expansion of high potential programs by growing partnerships and fostering connections between community colleges, community partners and other stakeholders.

Prior to IWPR, Martinique worked at American University serving as Director of an accelerated public health scholars’ program where she exposed undergraduates to topics such as health equity, advocacy, reproductive justice, epidemiology, and social determinants of health. Dr. Free served on the department’s leadership team where she provided ongoing strategic advisement to the management of the department.

Dr. Free has a plethora of professional and research experiences in Public Health within community-led programming as well as on the local and state levels conducting HIV incidence and surveillance. Dr. Free is passionate about reproductive justice and women’s health in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations, health equity, and understanding cultural relevance as it relates to health promotion and disease prevention.

Dr. Free earned her doctorate in Health Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Communicable Diseases and Behavioral Health Science from the University of Pittsburgh-Graduate School of Public Health. Additionally, she has a B.S. in Laboratory Animal Science from N.C. A&T State University.

Miranda Peterson is an IWPR Research Assistant. Miranda focuses on workforce development and the future of work, employment earnings, and job quality. Miranda also works on issues such as income security and economic mobility for women. Prior to IWPR, Miranda attended Georgia Southern University, where she received a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy and a minor in Arabic. She specializes in women’s rights research and is especially passionate about economic security for women. She served as a Political Science Research Assistant for Georgia Southern University for a year before she graduated in 2022. Outside of work, Miranda enjoys spending time with animals (especially cats), reading, and being with friends.

Mrin comes to IWPR with a strong background in academic research, having worked across universities and research institutions in the US, UK, and India. Her expertise in labor economics and education policy will help strengthen IWPR’s data-driven approach to advancing gender equity. Her research has focused on women’s employment and fertility decisions, as well as the impact of non-traditional educational inputs on student outcomes. She holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Economics from University College London, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland. During her time at Maryland, she also taught mathematics for economics, with a passion for making math more accessible and less intimidating for all.

Outside of work, Mrin fosters cats and enjoys experimenting with different crafting mediums.

Noura Hassouna is an international affairs scholar focusing on Global Gender Policy. Noura earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies from the Lebanese American University. She went on to earn her life coach certificate through The National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming and the Behavioral Coaching Institute. Finally, she earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration on Global Gender Policy and the Middle East from George Washington University, where she conducted a yearlong research paper on Women-Led Activism in the MENA Region: An Activist’s Pathway for Addressing Domestic Violence. She has previously held positions at George Washington University, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and the United Nations. She has also conducted research for the Egyptian Embassy’s Office of Commerce. In her spare time, Noura is an avid reader and a photographer who enjoys hiking and rafting.

Pamela Alvarado is an IWPR Research Assistant. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she solidified her commitment to equitable policy as a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Her academic and professional interests are centered on using economic analysis to advance gender equity, with a specific focus on economic policy, education, immigration rights, and antitrust causes.

Outside of work, Pamela enjoys traveling, exploring museums, and going to concerts—often combining all three when visiting a new city. She also enjoys biking, reading, and spending time with friends.

Victoria Gianopoulos (she/her/hers) is the Program Coordinator at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role, she provides program support, coordination, and assistance across Research, Policy, Communications, and Advancement. She works closely with the Chief Strategy Officer and contributes to the implementation of IWPR’s strategic plan. Prior to IWPR, Victoria co-founded the Committee on Racial Equity Student Advisory Group, which successfully lobbied for accessible education on racial literacy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she helped conduct lab experiments as a research assistant with the Social Psychology and Neurology Lab. Her senior thesis addressed gender differences within psychopathology, emphasizing the importance of equitable education and access to mental healthcare of all genders. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys hiking, music, and exploring museums.

Anjali brings over five years of experience in applied research and policy projects across the US, India, and Morocco, with a focus on gender equity, inclusive economic research, and community-driven development. She has worked with the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Minneapolis, Harvard Growth Lab, and J-PAL, and most recently studied the barriers girls in rural India face in pursuing higher education.

She earned her MPA/ID from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Mathematics from Northeastern University. While at Harvard, she chaired the Women in Power Conference and received the Barbara Jordan Award for Women’s Leadership in 2025.

Ernest joins IWPR as Events Manager and brings over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector and six years of expertise in event and conference management, with a focus on creating impactful, accessible, and mission-aligned experiences.

Before joining IWPR, Ernest served as the Meeting and Events Planner at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), where they led large-scale conferences and advocacy weekends. They also coordinated more than 300 programs annually at the D.C. Bar, developing inclusive procedures and improving communication across diverse member communities.

Ernest holds a B.A. in Performance Studies with a minor in Sociology from Centenary College and returned to the DMV area in 2016 to continue their commitment to social justice through community-centered events.

Outside of work, Ernest enjoys discovering new food spots, attending live performances, and spending time with friends and family.

Brigid attended William & Mary and the University of St Andrews. Through constantly changing academic and political environments, Brigid found that her passion always remained focused on how women’s perspectives can be brought into any conversation. She continued her work focusing on gender based issues while interning with the National Organization for Women and the U.S. House of Representatives following the Dobbs decision. She is passionate about understanding how policy can be used to increase access to resources to help women and their communities. Outside of work, Brigid loves dancing, exploring the city through running, and finding the best free activities the DMV has to offer.

Emily Maistrellis joins IWPR as the Director of the Status of Women in the States, and brings nearly fifteen years of experience at the intersection of public health and human rights, focusing on advancing sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ) through the integration of research, policy, and practice.

Before joining IWPR, Emily led a dynamic portfolio of SRHRJ research and advocacy projects at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health’s Global Health Justice and Governance Program for five years. Her expertise on the impacts of the U.S. ‘Global Gag Rule’ has been widely recognized, with her research being cited by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in written testimony submitted to Congress, and in Amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court. Her work has also been featured by major media outlets such as CNN, Global Press Journal, the Fuller Project, the Washington Post, and WBUR.

Emily has held previous positions at the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Jhpiego. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Bates College. Additionally, she is a certified birth doula and has training as a full-spectrum doula.

Salma Elakbawy is a policy analyst at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role she is responsible for creating policy advocacy materials for federal and state policymakers, coalition partners, the media and the public while analyzing policy implications of relevant legislation, regulations, and executive actions. She graduated with a B.A in political science with a minor in women’s and gender studies and an M.A. in political science and global policy studies with a concentration in women’s rights from Rutgers University. She is also a proud Douglass Woman. Salma is a recipient of the Emily Hickman Award for Global Understanding, the RAAA award for continuing graduate studies, and the Douglass Alumnae Fellowship Award. As a political scientist her expertise lies in intersectional feminist theory and analyzing policy through a gendered lens. Salma brings over 6 years of research experience to IWPR. She has worked for organizations such as the Institute for Research on Women, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Salma has had her work published in Feminist Campus and Ms. Magazine.

Beth Ramirez is a nonprofit professional with 8+ years’ experience developing robust fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations that focus on progressive issues such as reproductive rights, immigration reform, and sexual assault awareness. Her professional experience includes grant management, donor management, event planning, community organizing, and direct appeal communication.

Prior to joining IWPR, Beth worked for Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida where she developed a grants program that ensured Planned Parenthood patients in Florida and surrounding states continued to received access to essential reproductive health care and sexual health education.

Beth received her Masters degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and where she also served as the Chair of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, which focused on building collaboration between graduating nonprofit professionals and local nonprofits.

Beth is a South Florida native (West Palm Beach, Fl) and  first generation American of Colombian and Dominican descent. Outside of work she enjoys browsing the NYT cooking page for new recipes, playing outside with her four year old son Avery, and crafting.

Fiona Klotz (she/her/hers) is the Advancement Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In this role, she works cross-departmentally to ensure collaboration between the Advancement Team and Research, Policy, Communications and the Office of the President on all donor-related projects and programs.

Prior to IWPR, Fiona worked at George Mason University, where she co-founded, developed, and co-coordinated the Bonner Leadership Program. She also worked as a Student Mentor and Teaching Assistant for the two cohorts of students she recruited, mentored, taught, and worked alongside for 3 years. This program is ever expanding and will continue to uphold the legacy she and her colleagues have left behind.

Fiona received her BA in Social Justice and Human Rights from George Mason University in 2022 and was given multiple awards for her leadership, service, and innovation. She is passionate about Reproductive and Restorative Justice practices for policy advocacy, research, and educational transformation.

Chasity Cook (she/her) is IWPR’s People and Culture Generalist in Operations.

Chasity is a seasoned HR professional with a passion for building positive and inclusive workplace environments. She holds an MBA and a Coaching Certificate from the Association of Talent Development, combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience to make a real impact. Her expertise spans employee relations, DEI initiatives, and strategic planning—skills that will help us continue fostering a supportive and empowering workspace for all

Diane Danielek is IWPR’s Office Manager. She has extensive administrative management experience with a diverse range of business and organizational environments, including  hospitality groups, large trade organizations, non-profits, and tech start-ups. Prior to joining IWPR, Diane spent more than a decade with the Eatwell Restaurant Group in DC, and prior to that she was with the educational nonprofit Curriki, and the internet development firm Bixler Incorporated. She is a graduate of Ohio University and when she is not “office managing” she enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading and long walks to and fro.

Ryan Koch joined IWPR in 2007 as the Development Director. He earned his MS in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech he majored in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. His area of study and interest has been and remains focused on issues of race, class and gender. Ryan comes to the IWPR after several years successfully writing grant proposals for the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development and the Memphis Housing Authority. He spent most of his time working with the Housing Authority’s Humans Services programs and the City’s homeless Continuum of Care. Ryan is responsible for ensuring the Development Department runs smoothly and is excited about helping IWPR identify new funding opportunities and expanding its support.

Susan Patterson (she/her) is the Senior Manager, Publications, and a communications specialist with a strong track record of crafting clear, concise, and impactful content that elevates the mission of nonprofits working to improve the lives of women and girls.

Before joining IWPR, Susan worked for PAI, a global sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy nonprofit. There, she led the creation of donor communications and helped shape programmatic content and organizational collateral, ensuring each piece was accurate, on brand, and amplified the organization’s work and the urgency of its mission. Other prior experience includes three international fellowships with NGOs in Ghana, Panamá, and Thailand.

Susan holds a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, D.C., where she can usually be found outside running, camping, or hiking or inside curled up on the couch with her dog and cat.

Tessa Dee is the Senior Manager of Digital Strategy for IWPR. Prior to joining IWPR, Tessa served as communication manager and development director for numerous organizations, including the Democracy Alliance, the American Heart Association, and the LifeScape Foundation. Inspired by her time as Miss South Dakota 2013 and the creation of the children’s literacy organization Project Bookworm, Tessa received her Master of Arts in Communications with the intention of helping non-profit organizations better their mission-driven storytelling and enhancing their public presence. In addition to her professional pursuits, Tessa also won the title of Miss South Dakota USA 2017, becoming just the second woman from South Dakota to hold both Miss America and Miss USA titles for the state. Tessa now lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Sam, and their three rescue pets, Fitz, Franklin, and Archie.